The total synthesis of hirsutellide A 1 was described. The linear hexadepsipeptide precursor 2 was synthesized in 45%, yield from N'-Boc-Me-Gly by three coupling reactions with DCC, HATU and BOP-Cl, respectively. Macrocyclization was successfully performed on the fully deprotected amino acid 14 with BOP-Cl in 15%, yield and with FDDP in 22% yield. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.